U.S. patent application number 11/491982 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for rapid coupling device for hydrogen storage canister.
Invention is credited to Yao-Sheng Hsu, Jefferson YS Yang.
Application Number | 20060255589 11/491982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37418420 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060255589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Jefferson YS ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Rapid coupling device for hydrogen storage canister
Abstract
A rapid coupling device for a hydrogen storage canister. The
rapid coupling device communicates the hydrogen storage canister
and a fuel cell. The hydrogen storage canister includes a
connecting assembly. The rapid coupling device includes a base and
a communicating member. The communicating member communicates with
the fuel cell, and is connected to the base. When the hydrogen
storage canister is coupled to the fuel cell via the connecting
assembly, the communicating member is abutted by the connecting
assembly so that hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister flows to
the fuel cell through the connecting assembly and the communicating
member.
Inventors: |
Yang; Jefferson YS; (Orange,
CA) ; Hsu; Yao-Sheng; (Taipei, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
37418420 |
Appl. No.: |
11/491982 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10428466 |
May 2, 2003 |
|
|
|
11491982 |
Jul 25, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
285/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/321 20130101;
Y02E 60/32 20130101; F17C 2205/037 20130101; F16L 37/23 20130101;
F16L 37/38 20130101; Y10T 137/87957 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/276 |
International
Class: |
F16L 27/00 20060101
F16L027/00 |
Claims
1. A rapid coupling device for receiving a connecting assembly
having formed therein a longitudinal chamber in communication with
a fluid conduit, the rapid coupling device comprising: a base
having formed therein a longitudinally extending interior chamber,
the base having formed thereon at least one transverse
through-hole; a moving member coaxially received in the interior
chamber of the base, the moving member having formed therein a
longitudinally extending bore, the moving member being biased in a
first position and longitudinally displaceable in the base to a
second position; a separating member coaxially disposed on an
exterior of the base, the separating member having formed on an
interior surface thereof a circumferential groove, the separating
member being biased in a third position and longitudinally
displaceable on the base to a fourth position; an abutting member
selectively displaceable in each transverse through-hole of the
base, the abutting member being forced into the circumferential
groove of the separating member when the moving member is in the
first position and the separating member is in the fourth position,
the abutting member being forced to the interior chamber of the
base when the moving member is in the second position and the
separating member is in the third position; a communicating member
coaxially received in the interior chamber of the base, a distal
end of the communicating member being coaxially received in the
bore of the moving member, the communicating member being formed
with a hollow portion; at least one first seal member disposed on
the communicating member to seal the communicating member and the
moving member; an ejector member, moveably disposed in the hollow
portion of the communicating member; at least one second seal
member disposed on the ejector member to seal the ejector member
and the hollow portion; and an elastic member, disposed in the
hollow portion in a manner such that the elastic member is abutted
by the ejector member; wherein the moving member is longitudinally
displaced relative to the communicating member by insertion of the
connecting assembly into the coupling device to thereby expose the
distal end of the communicating member longitudinally beyond the
moving member, the distal end of the communicating member being
received in the longitudinal chamber of the connecting assembly and
retained therein when the moving member is in the second position
and the separating member is in the third position.
2. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
abutting member is a steel ball.
3. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: an extension member connected to the separating member;
and a rod connected to the extension member.
4. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a first elastic member, surrounding the base,
respectively retained at opposing ends thereof by the separating
member and the communicating member so as to bias the separating
member toward the third position.
5. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a second elastic member, surrounding the communicating
member, respectively retained at opposing ends thereof by the
moving member and the communicating member so as to bias the moving
member toward the first position.
6. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
ejector member further comprises a disk member disposed on a distal
end of the ejector member, the disk member being formed with at
least one longitudinal communication channel; and wherein when the
ejector member is moved along the hollow portion of the
communicating member, the disk member is moved along the
longitudinal chamber of the connecting assembly, so that the
ejector member is moved smoothly and the second seal members being
tightly seal the ejector member and the hollow portion when the
moving member is located at the first position.
7. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a stopper disposed in the hollow portion of the
communicating member to maintain the ejector member in the hollow
portion and between the ejector member and the stopper, the stopper
being formed with a central communication hole.
8. A rapid coupling device for coupling a hydrogen storage canister
to a fuel cell, the rapid coupling device including a connecting
assembly having formed therein a longitudinally extending chamber
in communication with the hydrogen fluid canister, the rapid
coupling device comprising: a base having formed therein a
longitudinally extending interior chamber, the base having formed
thereon at least one transverse through-hole; a moving member
coaxially received in the interior chamber of the base, the moving
member having formed therein a longitudinally extending bore, the
moving member being biased in a first position and longitudinally
displaceable in the base to a second position; a separating member
coaxially disposed on an exterior of the base, the separating
member having formed on an interior surface thereof a
circumferential groove, the separating member being biased in a
third position and longitudinally displaceable on the base to a
fourth position; an abutting member selectively displaceable in
each transverse through-hole of the base, the abutting member being
forced into the circumferential groove of the separating member
when the moving member is in the first position and the separating
member is in the fourth position, the abutting member being forced
to the interior chamber of the base when the moving member is in
the second position and the separating member is in the third
position; and a communicating member coaxially received in the
interior chamber of the base, a distal end of the communicating
member being coaxially received in the bore of the moving member,
the communicating member being formed with a hollow portion; at
least one first seal member disposed on the communicating member to
seal the communicating member and the moving member; an ejector
member, moveably disposed in the hollow portion of the
communicating member; at least one second seal members disposed on
the ejector member to seal the ejector member and the hollow
portion; and an elastic member, disposed in the hollow portion in a
manner such that the elastic member is abutted by the ejector
member; wherein the moving member is longitudinally displaced
relative to the communicating member by insertion of the connecting
assembly into the coupling device to thereby expose the distal end
of the communicating member longitudinally beyond the moving
member, the distal end of the communicating member being received
in the longitudinal chamber of the connecting assembly and retained
therein when the moving member is in the second position and the
separating member is in the third position, hydrogen in the
hydrogen storage canister being thereby allowed to flow through
both the rapid coupling device and the connecting assembly via the
communicating member into the fuel cell when the hydrogen storage
canister is coupled to the rapid coupling device via the connecting
assembly.
9. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
abutting member is a steel ball.
10. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising: an extension member connected to the separating member;
and a rod connected to the extension member.
11. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising: a first elastic member, surrounding the base,
respectively retained at opposing ends thereof by the separating
member and the communicating member so as to bias the separating
member toward the third position.
12. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising: a second elastic member, surrounding the communicating
member, respectively retained at opposing ends thereof by the
moving member and the communicating member so as to bias the moving
member toward the first position.
13. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
ejector member further comprises a disk member disposed on a distal
end of the ejector member, the disk member being formed with at
least one longitudinal communication channel; and wherein when the
ejector member is moved along the hollow portion of the
communicating member, the disk member is moved along the
longitudinal chamber of the connecting assembly, so that the
ejector member is moved smoothly and the second seal members being
tightly seal the ejector member and the hollow portion when the
moving member is located at the first position.
14. The rapid coupling device as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising a stopper disposed in the hollow portion of the
communicating member to maintain the ejector member in the hollow
portion and between the ejector member and the stopper, the stopper
being formed with a central communication hole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
10/428,466, filed on May 2, 2003 entitled "Rapid Coupling Device
for Hydrogen Storage Canister".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a connecting device for a hydrogen
storage canister and a rapid coupling device therein; in
particular, to a connecting device that can conveniently detach the
hydrogen storage canister.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Recently, air pollution is more severe, and most of it comes
from exhaust gas generated by gasoline engines. Thus, the pollution
generated by the gasoline engine is worthy of consideration. To
improve environmental quality, it is important to replace polluting
gasoline engines with non-polluting fuel cells.
[0004] The structure and types of fuel cells are less relevant with
this invention, their detailed description is omitted. Currently,
fuel cells can be applied in many areas including the aerospace and
military, power generation, and transportation areas. It is noted
that fuel cells operate by combining oxygen and hydrogen, wherein
oxygen is directly provided by the environment, and hydrogen is
usually supplied by a hydrogen storage canister containing pure
hydrogen.
[0005] Since fuel cells and their peripheral equipment are still
undergoing research, the technology is immature. For example, when
a fuel cell is placed in an engine module of an electric scooter,
the hydrogen storage canister must communicate with the fuel cell
via a connecting device. Conventionally, a commercial quick
connection device is used. Commercial quick connection devices,
however, have the following disadvantages. The large size of a
commercial quick connection device requires the fuel cell to occupy
more space. The operation of a commercial quick connection device
requires two steps, it is difficult to detach. Additionally, the
commercial quick connection device is detached by rotation, and the
device therein is easily damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of this, the invention provides a rapid coupling
connecting device for a hydrogen storage canister that conveniently
detaches from the hydrogen storage canister.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention provides a rapid coupling device
for a hydrogen storage canister. The rapid coupling device
communicates the hydrogen storage canister and a fuel cell. The
hydrogen storage canister includes a connecting assembly. The rapid
coupling device includes a base and a communicating member. The
communicating member communicates with the fuel cell, and is
connected to the base. When the hydrogen storage canister is
coupled to the fuel cell via the connecting assembly, the
communicating member is abutted by the connecting assembly so that
hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister flows to the fuel cell
through the connecting assembly and the communicating member.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the rapid coupling device further
includes a moving member, an abutting member, and a separating
member. The moving member is disposed in the base in a manner such
that the moving member moves between a first position and a second
position. The abutting member is moveably disposed on the base.
When the moving member is located at the first position, the
abutting member is abutted by the moving member. When the moving
member is located at the second position, the abutting member is
abutted by the connecting assembly. The separating member is
disposed on the base in a manner such that the separating member
moves between a third position and a fourth position. When the
separating member is located at the third position, the abutting
member is abutted by the connecting assembly. When the separating
member is located at the fourth position, the abutting member is
not abutted by the connecting assembly.
[0009] Furthermore, the abutting member is a steel ball, and the
base is formed with a through hole in which the abutting member is
disposed.
[0010] The rapid coupling device further includes an extension
member, a rod, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member.
The extension member is connected to the separating member, and the
rod is connected to the extension member. The first elastic member,
surrounding the base, is abutted by the separating member and the
communicating member respectively so as to move the separating
member between the third position and the fourth position. The
second elastic member, surrounding the communicating member, is
abutted by the moving member and the communicating member
respectively so as to move the moving member between the first
position and the second position.
[0011] In another preferred embodiment, the communicating member
includes a groove, and the rapid coupling device further includes a
first seal member disposed in the groove.
[0012] In another preferred embodiment, the communicating member is
formed with a hollow portion communicating with the fuel cell, and
includes an ejector member, a third elastic member, and a second
seal member. The ejector member is moveably disposed in the hollow
portion of the communicating member to control the communication
between the outside and the hollow portion of the communicating
member. The third elastic member is disposed in the hollow portion
in a manner such that the third elastic member is abutted by the
ejector member, and maintains the ejector member at a predetermined
position. The second seal member is disposed on the ejector member
to seal the ejector member and the hollow portion.
[0013] In this invention, a connecting device for communicating a
hydrogen storage canister and a fuel cell is provided. The
connecting device includes a first connecting assembly and a second
connecting assembly. The first connecting assembly communicates
with the fuel cell, and includes a base and a communicating member
connected to the base. The second connecting assembly includes a
first ejector member, and is disposed in the hydrogen storage
canister and connected to the first connecting assembly in a
detachable manner. When the second connecting assembly is connected
to the first connecting assembly, the communicating member is
abutted by the first ejector member so that hydrogen in the
hydrogen storage canister flows to the fuel cell through the second
connecting assembly and the first connecting assembly.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the second connecting assembly
further includes a body, a valve, and a seal member. The body
includes a concave portion, and is disposed in the hydrogen storage
canister. The valve is disposed in the body, and the first ejector
member is moveably disposed in the valve. The seal member is
disposed in the concave portion.
[0015] In this invention, another rapid coupling device for a
hydrogen storage canister including a connecting assembly is
provided. The rapid coupling device includes a base and a
communicating member. The communicating member is connected to the
base. When the hydrogen storage canister is coupled to the rapid
coupling device via the connecting assembly, the communicating
member is abutted by the connecting assembly so that hydrogen in
the hydrogen storage canister flows to the rapid coupling device
through the connecting assembly and the communicating member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention can be more fully understood by
reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with
references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1a is an exploded view of a connecting device for a
hydrogen storage canister as disclosed in this invention;
[0018] FIG. 1b is a top view of the connecting device as shown in
FIG. 1a;
[0019] FIG. 2a is a cross section of the connecting device in FIG.
1a, wherein a first connecting assembly is not connected to a
second connecting assembly;
[0020] FIG. 2b is a cross section of the connecting device in FIG.
1a, wherein the first connecting assembly is connected to the
second connecting assembly;
[0021] FIG. 2c is a cross section of the connecting device in FIG.
1a, wherein a separating member is moved to a fourth position;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the connecting device
assembled on a hydrogen storage canister;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the second
connecting assembly as disclosed in this invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the stopper shown in
FIG. 1a; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the end member is screwed
on a threaded distal end of the first ejector member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a, a connecting device 1 as
disclosed in this invention is provided, and is used for
communicating a hydrogen storage canister 400 and a fuel cell 300.
The connecting device 1 includes a first connecting assembly 100
and a second connecting assembly 200. The first connecting assembly
100 is used as a rapid coupling device for the hydrogen storage
canister 400 as disclosed in this invention.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a, the first connecting
assembly 100 communicates with the fuel cell 300, and includes a
base 110, a communicating member 120, a moving member 130, a
plurality of abutting members 140, a separating member 150, an
extension member 160, a rod 170, a first elastic member 180, a
second elastic member 190, and two first seal members 195. It is
noted that only one abutting member 140 is shown in FIG. 1a.
[0028] The base 110 is used as a body of the first connecting
assembly 100, and is formed with a plurality of fixed holes 112 so
as to be fixed. In addition, the base 110 is formed with a
plurality of transverse through-holes 111 in which the abutting
members 140 are disposed. It is noted that only one through hole
111 is shown in FIG. 1a. The base 110 is formed with a
longitudinally extending interior chamber 113 therein.
[0029] The communicating member 120 is coaxially received in the
interior chamber 113 of the base 110, and is formed with two
grooves 121 in which the first seal members 195 are disposed. The
communicating member 120 is formed with a hollow portion 122 as
shown in FIG. 2a, and includes a first ejector member 123, a third
elastic member 124, and a second seal member 126. The hollow
portion 122 communicates with the fuel cell 300.
[0030] The first ejector member 123 is moveably disposed in the
hollow portion 122 of the communicating member 120 to control the
communication between the outside and the hollow portion 122 of the
communicating member 120. The third elastic member 124 is disposed
in the hollow portion 122 and between a stopper 127 and the first
ejector member 123 in a manner such that the third elastic member
124 is abutted by the first ejector member 123, and maintains the
first ejector member 123 at a predetermined position. It is
understood that the third elastic member 124 may be a compression
spring.
[0031] A central communication hole 127a is formed in the stopper
127 for providing a communication channel between the outside and
the hollow portion 122 of the communicating member 120, as shown in
FIG. 5. Preferably, a crosscut slot 127b is formed on a top surface
of the stopper 127 for facilitating rotation by screwdriver.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 6, a disk member 125 with an inner
threaded central bore is screwed on a threaded distal end 123a of
the first ejector member 123. The disk member 125 is formed with at
least one longitudinal communication channel 125a.
[0033] The second seal members 126 are disposed on the first
ejector member 123 to seal the first ejector member 123 and the
hollow portion 122. Thus, the communicating member 120 may be used
as a channel communicating the outside and the first connecting
assembly 100.
[0034] The moving member 130 is coaxially received in the interior
chamber 113 of the base 110 and one end of the moving member 130 is
projected from the communicating member 120. The moving member 130
is formed therein a longitudinally extending bore 131. A distal end
of the communicating member 120 is coaxially received in the bore
131 of the moving member 130.
[0035] When the second connecting assembly 200 is not connected to
the first connecting assembly 100, the moving member 130 is located
at a position as shown in FIG. 2a (hereinafter referred to as a
first position) so as maintain the abutting member 140 at a
predetermined position. When the second connecting assembly 200 is
connected to the first connecting assembly 100, the moving member
130 is located at a position as shown in FIG. 2b (hereinafter
referred to as a second position) so that the abutting member 140
is away from the predetermined position and may move in a
predetermined range.
[0036] Each of the abutting members 140 is disposed in the
through-hole 111 of the base 110 in a manner such that it is moved
in a predetermined range. When the first connecting assembly 100 is
inserted by the second connecting assembly 200, the second
connecting assembly 200 is fixed in the first connecting assembly
100 by the abutting members 140. It is understood that each of the
abutting members 140 may be a steel ball as shown in FIG. 1a.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2a, when the moving member 130 is
located at the first position, the abutting member 140 is abutted
between the moving member 130 and a circumferential groove 151
formed on an interior surface of the separating member 150. When
the moving member 130 is located at the second position, the
abutting member 140 is abutted by the second concave portion 222 of
the body 220 of the second connecting assembly 200.
[0037] The separating member 150 is coaxially disposed on an
exterior of the base 110, and separates the second connecting
assembly 200 from the first connecting assembly 100.
[0038] When the second connecting assembly 200 is connected to the
first connecting assembly 100, the separating member 150 is biased
at a position as shown in FIG. 2b (hereinafter referred to as a
third position) so as to be abutted by the abutting members 140.
Thus, the abutting members 140 are abutted by the second connecting
assembly 200 so that the second connecting assembly 200 is kept in
the first connecting assembly 100. When the second connecting
assembly 200 is separated from the first connecting assembly 100,
the separating member 150 is longitudinally displaceable on the
base 110 to a position, as shown in FIG. 2c (hereinafter referred
to as a fourth position). At this time, since the separating member
150 is moved upward, the abutting members 140 are moved outward.
Thus, the second connecting assembly 200 cannot be abutted by the
abutting members 140 so that the second connecting assembly 200
cannot be kept in the first connecting assembly 100. As a result,
the second connecting assembly 200 can be separated from the first
connecting assembly 100.
[0039] The extension member 160 is connected to the separating
member 150, and the rod 170 is connected to the extension member
160. By means of the extension member 160 and the rod 170, the
separating member 150 can be easily operated by the user.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2b and FIG. 2c, the first elastic member
180 surrounds the base 110. The first elastic member 180 is abutted
by the separating member 150 and the communicating member 120
respectively so as to move the separating member 150 between the
third position and the fourth position. It is noted that the first
elastic member 180 may be a compression spring.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, the second elastic member
190 surrounds the communicating member 120, and is abutted by the
moving member 130 and the communicating member 120 respectively so
that the moving member 130 is biased in a first position and
longitudinally displaceable in the base 110 to a second position.
It is noted that the second elastic member 190 may be a compression
spring.
[0042] The first seal members 195 are disposed in the grooves 121
of the communicating member 120, and prevent air from entering
through a gap between the communicating member 120 and the moving
member 130. Each of the first seal members 195 may be an
O-ring.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a, the second connecting
assembly 200 is disposed in the hydrogen storage canister 400 and
communicates with the hydrogen storage canister 400, and is
connected to the first connecting assembly 100 in a detachable
manner. The second connecting assembly 200 includes a body 220, a
valve 230, a second ejector member 210, a third seal member 240,
and a filter member 250.
[0044] The body 220 is used as a main component of the second
connecting assembly 200, and is formed with an interior chamber 223
and a first concave portion 221 in which the third seal member 240
is disposed. The valve 230 is disposed in the body 220, and the
second ejector member 210 is moveably disposed in the valve 230.
The third seal member 240 is disposed in the first concave portion
221 of the body 220 so as to seal the second connecting assembly
200 and the hydrogen storage canister 400. The body 220 is further
formed with a second concave portion 222 adjacent to a top end
thereof. The filter member 250 is disposed in the body 220, and
filters hydrogen passing through the second connecting assembly
200.
[0045] It is noted that the second ejector member 210 is moveably
kept in the valve 230 by an elastic member 212 which may be a
compression spring.
[0046] A forth seal member 211 is disposed on the second ejector
member 210 to seal the second ejector member 210 and the valve 230.
The forth seal member 211 may be an O-ring.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 3, the second connecting assembly 200 is
mounted on of the hydrogen storage canister 400, and the first
connecting assembly 100 is connected to the second connecting
assembly 200. The hydrogen storage canister 400 may be contained in
a container 500, and the first connecting assembly 100 may be
further firmly secured to the container 500 by means of the
extension member 160 and the rod 170.
[0048] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, the connecting device 1
further includes a cover 260. When the second connecting assembly
200 is not connected to the first connecting assembly 100, the
cover 260 is disposed on the second connecting assembly 200 so as
to protect the second connecting assembly 200 on the hydrogen
storage canister 400. In addition, since the cover 260 may be made
of plastic that is lighter material, it can detect whether hydrogen
in the hydrogen storage canister 400 has improperly leaked out.
Specifically, when the hydrogen storage canister 400 is subjected
to improper treatment so that received hydrogen leaks out, the
cover 260 will be separated from the second connecting assembly
200. Thus, an abnormal situation may be easily observed by the
user.
[0049] The structure of the connecting device 1 is described above,
and its operation is described as follows referring to FIGS.
2a-2c.
[0050] To connect the second connecting assembly 200 and the first
connecting assembly 100, the top end of the body 220 is first
abutted by the moving member 130 as shown in FIG. 2a while the
second ejector member 210 is not abutted by the first ejector
member 123. Then, the body 220 is moved upward to press the second
elastic spring 190 via the moving member 130 until the second
ejector member 210 is abutted by the first ejector member 123 of
the communicating member 120 as shown in FIG. 2b. At this time,
since the second ejector member 210 is abutted by the first ejector
member 123, a gap is formed between the second ejector member 210
and the valve 230. Also, the first ejector member 123 is moved
upward by the second ejector member 210 and thereby the second seal
member 126 is separated from the inner wall of the communicating
member 120. Thus, hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister 400 can
pass through the gap between the valve 230 and the second ejector
member 210 and flow to the fuel cell 300 through the communication
channel 125a of the disk member 125, the central communication hole
127a of the stopper 127, and the hollow portion 122 of the
communicating member 120. Finally, the abutting members 140 are
moved inward so as to be abutted by the second concave portion 222
of the body 220, and the second connecting assembly 200 is kept in
the first connecting assembly 100.
[0051] To separate the second connecting assembly 200 from the
first connecting assembly 100, the separating member 150 is moved
upward to press the first elastic member 180 as shown in FIG. 2c.
At this time, the abutting members 140 can be moved outward due to
the movement of the separating member 150, and it is separated from
the body 220. Thus, the second connecting assembly 200 can be
separated from the first connecting assembly 100. It is noted that
the first ejector member 123 can be pressed back to a fixed
position by the third elastic member 124 at this time, and the
second seal member 126 can be abutted by the inner wall of the
communicating member 120 again. Thus, ambient air can be prevented
from entering the communicating member 120.
[0052] When the first ejector member 123 is moved along the hollow
portion 122 of the communicating member 120, the disk member 125 is
moved along the interior surface of the interior chamber 223 of the
body 220, so that the first ejector member 123 is moved smoothly
and the second seal members 126 is tightly seal the first ejector
member 123 and the hollow portion 122 when the moving member 130 is
located at the first position.
[0053] The connecting device of this invention has the following
advantages. Since the connecting device of this invention is
designed for a hydrogen storage canister and fuel cell, its size
can be minimized. Thus, the space required by the fuel cell can be
minimized. Since the hydrogen storage canister can be separated
from the fuel cell by simply moving the separating member, it is
conveniently detached. Since the detachment is performed in a
linear manner without rotation, the device therein avoids
damage.
[0054] It is understood that the fuel cell is used as an object
that the hydrogen storage canister supplies in this description.
However, in practice, it is not limited to this; that is the
connecting device of this invention can be applied to other
equipment that requires a hydrogen storage canister to supply
hydrogen.
[0055] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the
contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar
arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art).
Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and similar arrangements.
* * * * *